Padmaavat producers move Supreme Court over ban in 4 states

By HT

The producers of Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Padmaavat have moved the Supreme Court against the film being banned in four states after receiving a clearance from the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC).

Rajasthan, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Haryana governments have banned the movie saying its release may pose law and order problems.

A bench comprising Chief Justice Dipak Misra and Justices A M Khanwilkar and D Y Chandrachud considered the submission of the counsel of the producer that the matter be heard urgently in view of the ban on its release by various state governments.

Starring Deepika Padukone, Ranveer Singh and Shahid Kapoor in lead roles, the film is based on Mohammad Jayasi’s poem Padmavat. Protests raged across India against the Sanjay Leela Bhansali directorial for allegedly distorting history, a charge the film’s makers have vehemently denied.

Originally titled Padmavati, the film’s name was changed to Padmaavat as suggested by the CBFC. The board recently cleared the film for release with U/A certificate and a set of five modifications.

The movie has been facing violent protests by the fringe group, Shri Rajput Karni Sena who blame the director and lead actors of insulting Rajputs and the community’s honour.

Protesters have issued death threats against Bhansali and Deepika over allegations that the queen romances Muslim emperor Alauddin Khilji in the movie – a charge the filmmakers have denied.

On Monday, the makers of Padmaavat released a new poster with no faces, mentioning the changes in bold and reassuring everyone that the film “upholds the honour of the Rajput community.”

Slated to hit theatres on January 25, Padmaavat is now set for a box office clash with Akshay Kumar’s PadMan.